So I am a SART rider and we all know that I am a dangerous sucky riders that doesn't know how to ride in traffic. Yeah, yeah, all you ROAD riders are skilled riders that avoid the trail because of riders like me.

But I must say a few weeks ago we rode a stretch of PCH. Along the way I saw a few riders do this and I've seen a few others do the same as I haved joined others in rides over the years. What gets me is that some of these riders use flashing lights, front and back and every other safety gizmo they can buy. Not to mention that the converstion on the ride is about how safe they ride while fighting unsafe drivers the entire time on the bike.

But when we approach an intersection with a turn lane, they take the inside! Sometimes while vehicular traffic has a green right turn arrow while we have a red light in the straight direction.

I've seen quite a few riders do this. Just a few weeks ago on our century, we were lined up (green arrows) waiting to go straight. Behind a speeding cyclist approached just as the light was about to turn green. An SUV at a red light ready to make a right hand turn. The light turned green and just the SUV launched into the right turn, the speeding cyclist squeezed though on the right between the curb and the SUV.

Luckily for the cyclist, the SUV was paying attention to his surroundings and slammed on his brakes before impact or I would have had some graphic footage and pics.

We were lined up (green stars) while the stupid lucky rider was on the right (red arrow) doing about 20 mph when he squeezed through.

But when we approach an intersection with a turn lane, they take the inside! Sometimes while vehicular traffic has a green right turn arrow while we have a red light in the straight direction.

I've seen quite a few riders do this. Just a few weeks ago on our century, we were lined up (green arrows) waiting to go straight. Behind a speeding cyclist approached just as the light was about to turn green. An SUV at a red light ready to make a right hand turn. The light turned green and just the SUV launched into the right turn, the speeding cyclist squeezed though on the right between the curb and the SUV.

Luckily for the cyclist, the SUV was paying attention to his surroundings and slammed on his brakes before impact or I would have had some graphic footage and pics.

We were lined up (green stars) while the stupid lucky rider was on the right (red arrow) doing about 20 mph when he squeezed through.

I have seen something similar when driving to work. A cyclist was in the left turn lane in front of me, on the left side of the lane. When it's time to go, he turns left into the left lane of the cross street while I turn into the right lane, then he tries to swerve over to the right side of the road to get in the bike lane. I had a feeling he didn't have a clue as to what he was doing so I gave him plenty of room. He might not be so lucky next time.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Xerum 525

Now get on your cheap bike and give me a double century. You walking can of Crisco!!

Where I ride on my way to work, the authorities have figured this out. The bike lane is up against the curb, but the cars that want to turn are held up by a red arrow, which holds them there for long enough until all the cyclists have gotten across the intersection. This is a major cycle route from the city though.

Hey Mr. Beanz, I totally agree. I ride 200 miles a week to work and drive a truck for a living. This story really hit home for me, from both perspectives as a driver and a cyclist. http://www.coronadelmartoday.com/309...bayside-drive/
This woman cyclist was in the right hand lane, the truck driver apparently didn't see her while turning right. If you read the story it will bring tears to your eyes. I love cycling and advocate everyone riding, no matter what level you are. But please be safe, realize cars don't always see you. One little mistake by either cyclist or driver can bring ruin and sadness to the families of these people.

Your drawing looks like an on/off ramp. Do you (or most cyclists) commonly ride on the highway? I thought that was illegal in most states. Care to explain further?

Further explain? How much further ha ha! I never said anything about a freeway and several places I mention intersections.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Beanz

But I must say a few weeks ago we rode a stretch of PCH. Along the way I saw a few riders do this................................
But when we approach an intersection with a turn lane, they take the inside.............................. Sometimes while vehicular traffic has a green right turn arrow while we have a red light in the straight direction. ........................., we were lined up (green arrows) waiting to go straight. Behind a speeding cyclist approached just as the light was about to turn green. An SUV at a red light ready to make a right hand turn. The light turned green and just the SUV launched into the right turn, the speeding cyclist squeezed though on the right between the curb and the SUV.

I thought maybe you would say something like certain highways (as far as how busy, etc.) were allowed while others weren't.

Art skills? I'm lucky I can draw a straight line with a computer program!

But I will say that there are many intersections with set up like this, big white V painted structure around here.

I have ridden on the fwy too. On Cool Breeze (Ventura?) and the 111(?) heading into Palm Springs on an MS ride years ago. Not to mention that some riders here (not me) may have ridden on the 91 near Green River.

1) on a road with high speed traffic it can be challenging to get over to where you "should" be, especially if the road is up hill and you're going 10 while traffic is going 45+. I will absolutely stay on the right in that situation, as much as I'd rather not, but I'll also sit there and let the turning traffic turn before attempting to cross the street. If you do go straight, as you should, cars also have an ugly tendency to go by you in the straight lane and then right hook you to get in the turn lane, even if you are riding the way you are supposed to be riding. There's a lot of room in your drawing but there isn't always that much room so it can be complicated.
2) What do you do when there is a right then lane, and then a combo right turn / straight lane? I generally go for the middle of the two lanes and go straight but it's perfectly conceivable that a car could right hook me at that intersection, so I will usually stop in front of all the cars (or behind them) so as to either be more visible or it doesn't matter.

If you're riding on streets and intersections don't make you as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs then you're half asleep. That site Alice linked is a good refresher read.

1) on a road with high speed traffic it can be challenging to get over to where you "should" be, especially if the road is up hill and you're going 10 while traffic is going 45+. I will absolutely stay on the right in that situation, as much as I'd rather not, but I'll also sit there and let the turning traffic turn before attempting to cross the street. If you do go straight, as you should, cars also have an ugly tendency to go by you in the straight lane and then right hook you to get in the turn lane, even if you are riding the way you are supposed to be riding. There's a lot of room in your drawing but there isn't always that much room so it can be complicated.2) What do you do when there is a right then lane, and then a combo right turn / straight lane? I generally go for the middle of the two lanes and go straight but it's perfectly conceivable that a car could right hook me at that intersection, so I will usually stop in front of all the cars (or behind them) so as to either be more visible or it doesn't matter.

If you're riding on streets and intersections don't make you as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs then you're half asleep. That site Alice linked is a good refresher read.

In the LAB safety class I took they said cyclists should take the rightmost lane that serves your destination...so you would use the lane that goes straight/right and to take the lane so no room for a vehicle to get next to you and right hook you. Proceed straight and vehicles behind can take their right.

I agree that if it is not safe to move over to where you should be you stay to the right and stop on shoulder if need be until there is a break in traffic allowing movement to where need to be to proceed safely thru intersection.

I agree with Trojanhorse, it can be tough to transition back into fast traffic. Especially if the bike lane our shoulder ends and dumps you into a right turn lane. Unless you're a fearless "take-the-laner" in all situations sometimes it's just hard to avoid ending up there but I'm extremely attentive in that situation and monitor the traffic behind me in my mirror. In the picture Beanz posted I would actually ride in the area between the turn lane and through lane (with the V's) if I needed to.

Referencing the Sarah Leaf accident thread - your diagrams (and that pic with the dedicated right turn lane) are typical of what the PCH/Bayside Drive intersection looks like, except no 'hashed' area between the right turn and thru-lane.

it's just hard to avoid ending up there but I'm extremely attentive in that situation and monitor the traffic behind me in my mirror. In the picture Beanz posted I would actually ride in the area between the turn lane and through lane (with the V's) if I needed to.

+1........I've been in that situation many times, even with Gina and maybe a few others on my wheel.

I am a STRONG believer in using arm signals while riding in traffic. I will modify my speed adjusting to traffic as much as I can and if I have to, leave my arm out there for a freaking hour signaling my intentions of moving left into the thru lane until an approaching driver slows and allows me to merge left. But I am looking back and making sure we are on the same page.

Many do and I've never had a problem with one helping me out. I see a ton of riders ontehroad without signals and i'ts hard to tell what they want to do. Maybe the drivers that shield me are cyclists too, who knows but I do the same for cyclists when I see them signal or show signs of wanting to merge over.

Referencing the Sarah Leaf accident thread - your diagrams (and that pic with the dedicated right turn lane) are typical of what the PCH/Bayside Drive intersection looks like, except no 'hashed' area between the right turn and thru-lane.

I wondered about that but the article says she and the driver were both turning and he just ran her down from behind. That's pretty bad!

So I am a SART rider and we all know that I am a dangerous sucky riders that doesn't know how to ride in traffic. Yeah, yeah, all you ROAD riders are skilled riders that avoid the trail because of riders like me.